Totally New To Scrapbooking

Okay, I am beginning my journey into scrapbooking. I know nothing, I have a program called paintshop photo pro X3 ultimate. I have a book on learning how to use this program, and I am wading through it. I have never scrapbooked, and hope to learn how to do the conventional some, but mainly the digital. I am lost as to how to begin, there are so many tutorials, but every one I open begins ahead of my ability. I also downloaded the free ebook tutorial and am beginning that today. My problem is this, I will be on break from graduate school most of the month of December, and need a crash course to get started, lol. Please can someone hold my hand through this process, and help me to go in the right direction? I have a lifetime of photos to scan in, and catalog (big words I learned in a tutorial) and would love to make baby books for my grandchildren. I am computer savvy to a certain extent, but scared of this program, and ruining my pictures. I have watched the corel tutorials on youtube, as well as a few of the ones on digital scrapbooking, but feel like I am missing how to actually begin...

Welcome, bigmama! I wrote you a long note, but it didn't show up. There's a lot of tutorials and help for you with Paint Shop Pro. Check out the free downloads of books and articles to help you, and download the free collection on the homepage "A Narrative" to get you started.
Everyone here is very helpful, and I really love it here. (I don't work here, I just love it.)
The free newsletter is great!!!!!!! Helpful ideas, freebies, and I really look forward to it.

It looks as if you have a very busy life, so I hope you enjoy scrapbooking.
Jean jenrou)

Hello and WELCOME, bigmama! I can totally understand where you are coming from. When I first joined this site I also had Paintshop Pro and was totally lost! I struggled along with hit and miss of "wonder what happens when I do this?" ... and I would get very frustrated when I knew what I wanted to accomplish but could not figure out how to do it. I had a HUGE BREAKTHROUGH when I purchased Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed: Paint Shop Pro (PSP) X - Downloadable version . I am a visual learner so having the tutorials on video were great. What I especially liked about it was that I would have the video running and have PSP open and worked right along with Ro as she would taught. It was well worth the price and saved me empting the bottle of Excedrine!

Welcome! Don't stress. You are going to have a blast here!If you go to this link you will find a handy book (free) and a few more links bellow that will be of great help. (one of the other books are free too.http://store.scrapgi...e-basics-eBook)

Welcome. I'm not familiar with your software, but if you are worried about the photos, you can always make a 2nd copy and then if you mess up on one (I don't think it's very easy to do, but understand your fear) you will have a good copy still. Have fun with the software. Can you use one of the JIF kits or easy pages? They are really easy - just pop a photo in. They aren't very expensive, either.

Absolutely you want to experiment on a copy of a photo. I learned that the hard way before I found Scrap Girls. There are some tricks to editing a photo that I'm sure Ro's Secrets will help you with.
You can use a photo more than once in a layout, too, if you adjust it in different ways.
I've not used your program, but PSE is not intuitively obvious, and I never would have stuck with it without video tutorials.
And just keep asking questions! We love to help!

The Secrets videos should get you up and running in no time, but if you come across something you don't understand, don't hesitate to ask questions here. I'm only slightly familiar with PSP, but it does have some similarities to Photoshop Elements and full Photoshop, so there should be lots of people that can help.